Cost of Living

Although in Portugal, prices tend to be higher in the coastal cities, especially Lisbon, Porto and the towns of the Algarve area, generally speaking, however, if we compare with the rest of E.U. countries, the cost of living in Portugal can be considered to be lower.

As an estimate, a student in Lisbon will need somewhere between 450€ and 600€ per month for accommodation, food, study material and other basic expenses.

Getting the Money

Portugal has a national inter-bank network of ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines). "Multibanco" terminals are distributed among shopping centres, petrol stations, shopping areas and, of course, the banks. Apart from providing cash withdrawals of up to €200 per day, other services are available, including bank transfers, bank statements, payments for public and private services, purchase of train tickets and even the purchase of tickets for public events like football matches and shows.

The ATMs can be used with a wide variety of international credit and debit cards.(For further information contact your bank). You can also open a bank account in most banks as long as you intend to stay for more than 3 months. To open the account, you will need to present identification as well as a tax number. Students don’t pay tax in Portugal, but all persons are issued with a tax number anyway. To receive the tax number, you must go to the Direcção Geral dos Impostos (i.e. the tax office) located in the "Loja do Cidadão" (the citizen’s service bureau, see www.lojadocidadao.pt) ».

Accommodation

Ispa provides no accommodation within its own structure but there are in the area surrounding the University, multiple offers which the Erasmus office will be happy to direct you to.

There is even in the Students Association website a page dedicated to this effect - here! »

You can also try several websites like these:

• Just Landed "Housing" »
• ErasmusLisboa "Rooms/Appartments" »

Meals

ISPA Canteens and Bars

There are two bars and a Canteen within the Institutes building. The price of meals is as follows: Simple course – 3€ / Pre-paid ticket for full meal – 5.50€

Portuguese Cooking

Like many aspects of Portuguese society and culture, Portuguese cooking is heavily influenced by the travels of the Portuguese people throughout the world, from India to Newfoundland. While the Mediterranean ingredients like olive oil, garlic, onions, lemons and bay leaves have an essential role in seasoning the main dishes, oriental spices and north sea cod are equally characteristic of the meals served in every home and restaurant. The meat is seasoned with spices and often infused with wine, accompanied by potatoes, rice and vegetables, and there are some curious meat and shell-fish combinations. The soups of Portugal can be light and nutritious with vegetables and pulses, or made in a heavier country style with broad beans, kidney beans, chick peas or rice.

Medical Facilities

Public Health Clinic

The Public Health Clinics (“Centro de Saúde”) are run through the National Health System in order to provide general healthcare for the general public. In case of sudden illness you should go to the permanent attendance service (SAP), or to the nearest Hospital in case of a life threatening situation or serious illness.

Payments and Healthcare Insurance

Healthcare must always be paid for, either directly by the patient or by means of a health insurance policy. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he/she has an adequate health insurance policy.

Social Security System

Many students can benefit from the international agreements in which Portugal participates in order to gain access to the Portuguese Social Security System, and through it to the National Health System, particularly within the framework of the following:

• At multilateral level, the Community Regulations on Social Security, no. 1408/71 and no. 574/72, which include the member states of the European Union as well as Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, which are part of the European Economic Area, as well as Switzerland.
• At bilateral level, the conventions / agreements celebrated with Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, USA, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, Venezuela and Uruguay.

For further information about these conventions and agreements, students should contact the social security services in their home country before travelling to Portugal.

Pharmacies

Most pharmacies in Lisbon are open during the week from 09h00 to 13h00 and from 15h00 to 19h00. On Saturday the opening hours are from 09h00 to 13h00. They are closed on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday.

Special 24-hour services are made available by pharmacies on a rotation basis. The addresses and telephone numbers of the particular pharmacy on weekend and night duty are provided in the local newspapers and are listed in the front windows of all pharmacies as well as on-line through the site www.anf.pt ».

Vaccination

For the purposes of entering, residing and studying in Portuguese territory, there are no statutory requirements with respect to vaccination. Nevertheless, the Portuguese Ministry of Health highly recommends that all citizens be vaccinated against tetanus, with a maximum lapse of ten years between doses.

ISPA Facilities for Special needs Students

Ispa is equipped to take in students with physical disabilities, as his required by law of all Public and Private Education Services in Portugal.

Insurance

Students coming to Ispa should make sure that they are covered by either their University’s insurance policy or by one taken on by themselves before departing their country.

Financial Support for Students

The Financial support for exchange students is funded by the E.U. and students should apply for it at their home University.

ISPA Student affairs Office

A Student affairs Office is available for all students with the following hours:

Back Office

• Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – 11.00h – 13.30h
• Wednesdays and Fridays – 14.30h – 19.30h

• Mondays to Fridays – 10.00h – 13.00h / 14.30h – 16.00h/ 17.30h – 19.30h
• Saturday’s and Sunday’s the Bureau is closed

• Head of the Office – Isabel Marques – imarques@ispa.pt
• Phone – 00351 218811720
• Fax – 00351 218860954

ISPA Students Association

There is a Students Association at ISPA which acts as a representative of all students in the advisory and Governing Bodies of the School. They are responsible for a number of initiatives, namely in the area of extra-curricular activities (sports, theatre, etc…).

You can find all about our students association at their website: http://aeispa.forum-motion.net »

ISPA Study Facilities

There are within the Institution several structures which support the activities of the students, notably:

A Bookshop (open from Monday to Friday. 10.30h/13.00h –14.00h/20.00h)

Contacts:

• Head of Bookshop – Lina Branco – livraria@ispa.pt
• Phone – 00351 218811716
• Fax – 00351 218882555

• Head of Library – Prof. Carlos Lopes – clopes@ispa.pt
• Phone – 00351 218811750
• Fax - 00351 218860954